5 Questions to Ask a Plumbing Contractor before Signing the Contract

Posted by Havafix on February 27th, 2020

We’ve all heard horror stories about plumbing contracts gone seriously wrong lack of skill, botched work, ridiculously long delays. Picking the right plumbing contractorto handle your project is no joke. Make the most informed decision you can by doing your due diligence. Besides residential and commercial plumbing projects, the contractors manage several other services for you, like high pressure water jetting, drain and sewer cleaning, video pipe inspection, water conditioners, water filtration, water softening, water treatment, water heaters etc.

If you are anticipating a major plumbing repair or installation, before proceeding further to sign a contract with a plumbing contractor, there are some things you must clarify.By asking prospective contractors the following questions, you could save thousands of dollars down the road.

1. Are you Licenced?

This is the big one. Never, ever forget to ask this question, and don't just take the plumber's word for it. Being licensed means the plumber is registered with a governing body at the state or local level.A licence demonstrates that a governing body has approved the contractor as qualified. By asking this question, you’re ensuring you’re covered at least at a minimum level. Should the contractor try to quit the job or take off with your deposit money, the licence gives you the benefit of being insured up to a certain amount.

2. Do you carry the required Insurance?

Many homeowners mistakenly believe that they are protected if they have liability insurance – whether the contractor has it or not. If anything were to go wrong on the job site and you were to deal with water damage to your propert. or your neighbour’s, the contractor’s insurance certificate helps you deal with those unforeseen circumstances. Don’t hesitate to contact the insurance company to verify its validity.You must protect yourself against issues that could present themselves in the course of a plumbing project. 

3. Will the estimation cover all costs?

 When getting an estimate, make sure to ask if the total you're being quoted is a flat rate — one that won't change because of labor costs — or if your plumber is using an hourly rate plus the cost of materials. The problem with the second option is that while materials are a fixed price, if the job runs long, the cost will keep going up while you pay for labor. Make sure you know what you're getting before you sign a contract.Many plumbers build clauses into contracts that say homeowners will bear any reasonable costs to complete the job. 

A trustworthy plumber can usually give you a ballpark estimate, depending on what you describe to them, but a true plumber won’t give you an exact price until they look at your plumbing needs specifically.Be sure to ask if their estimate includes delays caused by unexpected complications, in addition to the full cost of materials and labor.

4. Who’s doing the work?

 Professional plumbing companies often employ more than just one plumber, and for large projects they may use a team of laborers. Always ask if the plumber giving you the quote is the one doing the work. If he says no, ask who will be completing the job and what level of experience and qualifications he has. If you feel uncomfortable with the answer or if the plumber can't provide details, you may want to keep looking.

5. Are there any Warranties available?

Warranties are often time-based, like 90-days, a year, five years, or a ten-year warranty. Depending on the project, there are even some lifetime warranties, should a part fail or need replacement.Warranties can be a godsend when something goes wrong shortly after the completion of the project. With a warranty, you can protect your latest plumbing investment.Plumbing warranties also help ensure a job gets done right because no one wants to come back and redo a job a second time.Before starting any plumbing project, be sure to ask your contractor if they offer warranties.